Happy Thanksgiving!!

Before I take myself to my Internet 12 Step Group, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. While I personally am not a fan of the holiday, I hope all of you are with people you love, enjoying the day and what it stands for.

I fly home to Dallas tomorrow and have many pictures and more blogs to write including my counterfeit money, throwed rolls, and other assorted adventures from my trip.

Gobble, gobble!!

Hi, My Name is Mo and I'm an Internet-aholic!

Okay, I've accepted that I have some issues. Heck, we all have issues. I don't know if it's because I'm single, I live alone, or I have a lot of friends that I enjoy keeping up with in various forms of communication, but....

I'm addicted to the Internet.

I have become what I used to make fun of.

Last Saturday, I flew to St. Louis to spend Thanksgiving with my family. We had a terrific first day - which I already blogged about. We get back to my aunt's house and I immediately start jonezing for the Internet.

I have a BlackBerry. My Facebook is on it. My home e-mail (one of them) is on it. I've forwarded my work e-mail to my home e-mail that is on my BlackBerry. Yet, I feel strangely disconnected from the world at large....

My aunt shows me where the computer is and I'm on it for an hour checking the following:

1. Facebook - any new friends? Any posts? Are my cars parked? Trees harvested? New requests?
2. My Space - why? I reject two people I don't know that want to be my friends.
3. AOL e-mail - most of it I've handled through my BlackBerry, but a few that I need to address
4. SBC Global e-mail - most junk mail, but still check and weed out
5. Work e-mail - again, mostly junk mail, but weed out
6. My Blog - moderate new comments and add a post

Really? I need to do all of that? I used to make FUN of people who did all of that...

We leave on Monday for a little side trip and there is no Internet access, by Wednesday when we return, I'm almost going apeshit, hands shaking, needing a drink because I haven't been connected to the Internet. Again, another hour or so updating all of the above.

I need a life. Wait, let me specify. I need a 3-D life - I have one heck of an active cyber life that I can't keep up with!!

Greetings from Villa Ridge, Missouri!!

Ahh... the joys of the Internet.... I am able to blog about my adventures from the road, instead of having to wait until I return home. Now, pictures will have to be posted when I return home.

Yesterday morning at the airport ran so smoothly. We took off on time and landed on time. No big hassles, I even caught a little catnap on the plane.

My aunt Betty and cousin Kate picked me up at the airport. We then went to the Arch and I took some pictures of it - but we were too close, so I'll take some more another day. After that we headed to the Anheuser Busch brewery tour.

Wow - it was really a great tour and experience. Especially the two free beers at the end. I have some great pictures that I will post upon my return home.

After that, we did a drive by of the City Museum. I really wanted to go in, but with it being a Saturday, kids were everywhere - this is something I'd rather do on a day that might be less crowded - it looks like an amazing museum - very interactive.

We then went to the Basilica of St. Louis. It was amazing - ornate and so beautiful. They just finished it in 1988 and it took them over 60 years to build it. The Catholic in me was quite touched by the whole thing!

After that, we dropped Kate off so she could do her thing with her hubby and Betty and I went for a DELICIOUS Italian meal at Cunetto's on The Hill. The Hill is the Italian part of St. Louis, lots of good restaurants. We really enjoyed our meal!!

We came home and just relaxed, watching "Sex and the City" movie and doing nothing until I crashed about 10:30 PM.

What a wonderful first day of vacation!! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I leave tomorrow morning at 8:10 AM for my Thanksgiving adventure. I've been a bit stressed tonight getting everything done and ready, but I'm now ready to go and I think it's going to be a fabulous trip!

When I get there, Betty & Kate will be picking me up and we'll be doing St. Louis touristy things.... such as the Arch, The City Museum, Anheuser Busch tour, Union Station, and the Cathedral downtown. We'll eat on The Hill, the Italian part of St. Louis - yummy!!

On Sunday, we'll have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with Betty, Kate & Tommy, and some friends of theirs. It should be a lovely day and a lovely meal.

On Monday, Betty & I head to Eureka Springs. We'll shop and explore the town. Monday night we'll stay in a haunted hotel and take the ghost tour. Should be spooky!!

Tuesday we'll finish in Eureka Springs and then head to Branson. We'll see Branson and spend the night there.

Wednesday we'll head back to Washington, taking our time and seeing what trouble we can conjure up for ourselves.

Thursday we'll serve dinners at my aunt's church and take in a movie.

Friday, I'll come home - exhausted but having had a wonderful adventure.

I'll be blogging from the road and will share with you adventures that I have. Pictures will have to wait until I return next week.

Whether your Thanksgiving is functional, boring, or full of festive cheer - I wish you the best. I know I have much to be thankful for (and I'm thankful all year long, not just on this day!!).

What was the #1 song on your birthday?

Thanks to my buddy Gordon Keith, here is a great website that allows you to look at the #1 songs on your birthday. Now that's pretty cool..... and now you are about to have to look at most of the songs that were popular on my birthday....... (this is going to take a while to get through)

Flashback Charts - you know you are curious, don't lie!!

• June 28, 1970 - The Day of My Birth (did you know that when I was born, I thought the world began this day and that if you were older than me, you were just born that way on my b-day? Am I total narcissist or what?!>!?) "The Love You Save" by the Jackson 5 (probably the one Jackson 5 song I'm not a fan of)
• 1971 - "I Feel the Earth Move" by Carole King - this is off of one of my all-time favorite CDs, "Tapestry." I love this song!!
• 1972 - "Song Sung Blue" by Neil Diamond (song sung blue, weeping like a willow, song sung blue, sleeping on my pillow.....)
• 1974 - "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot - I love this song!!
• 1975 - "Love Will Keep Us Together" by The Captain and Tenille - this is one fine karoake tune.... trust me.... and my apologies in advance to the man who I might marry, this one will be coming at you, LIVE.... and now I have reason, it's my b-day song!
• 1976 - "Silly Love Songs" by Paul McCartney & Wings - I remember this song..... I love it!!
• 1977 - "Gonna Fly Now (Theme From Rocky)" by Bill Conti - oh, yeah..... flying high now........... trying hard now........ running up the steps..... getting to the top..... jumping up and down and punching arms out..... (Ed.'s note: I used this song as a motivational song for my ghetto kids, they used to just laugh at me and shake their head......)
• 1978 - "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb - I love me some Andy Gibb.... he's my favorite Brother Gibb.....
• 1979 - "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward - you can ring my bell...... oh, yeah, baby......
• 1981 - "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes - I got this record for my 11th birthday..... I wanted to be Kim Carnes.... I remember at Lori's b-day party.... me, Jen G., and Amy sang and danced this song (do you remember singing and choreographing songs? If you do, you probably also had a Grease book too!)
• 1982 - "Don't You Want Me" by The Human League - don't.... don't you want me... you know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me...... I used to always get Human League & Animotion mixed up
• 1983 - "Flashdance (What a Feeling)" by Irene Cara - need I say anything else?
• 1984 - "The Reflex" by Duran Duran...... the summer of '84 I was on a softball team called "The Reflex." We cut our shirts sleeveless, wore Jams for shorts, and basically sucked ass on the field. I think we won one game, on my birthday...... but we had fun. We'd blast this song as we got ready for the game..... I think we were going into 9th grade and we were coached by two seniors...... haha
• 1985 - "Heaven" by Bryan Adams..... I still love this song....
• 1989 - "Baby, Don't Forget my Number" by Milli Vanilli - I still have this cassette tape..... CASSETTE TAPE!!! I'm convinced someday it will be worth money and I will retire..... and when I'm sad, I like to sing and dance like Milli Vanilla..... RIP Rob Pilatus (Ed.'s note: The only other cassette I still own is Eddie Murphy "Comedian" - classic.....)
• 1990 - "Step by Step" by NKOTB - you know from previous posts that I love me some NKOTB
• 1992 - "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot - I like big butts and I cannot lie, the other brothers can't deny........ CLASSIC........
• 1997 - "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy (aka PDiddy aka Diddy aka Sean John aka Sean Combs) & Faith Evans Featuring 112 - I like this song.... of course, I like Puff Daddy.....
• 1998 - "The Boy is Mine" by Brandy & Monica - two sistas fighting over a man.... the timeless struggle
• 2001 - "Lady Marmalade" by Pink, Mya, Lil' Kim & Christina Aguilera - So love this song..... wish they had been looking for a fifth, I was available
• 2002 - "Hot in Herre" by Nelly - this was the summer I moved home from Florida.... I love me some Nelly..... Country Grammar, anyone?
• 2004 - "Burn" by Usher (or Urshur) - just let it burn........
• 2007 - "Umbrella" by Rihanna - I just love this song....
• 2008 - "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay - this is one of my current favorite songs.... I didn't know the name of the song, but I knew it was Coldplay..... great song.....

And there you have it...... so what's your favorite song from your birthday years?

I'm gonna have to download the songs I don't have and make a "Mo B-Day Mix"........

I have a new counter......

..... and let's see if it works!!

We have 1100 hits.....

.... and my damn counter broke!! Next time, I'll shop at Target instead of Walmart.... so I guess I'll start counting..... AGAIN!!

Introducing Special Guest Blogger.... my sister Sarah!!

My sister Sarah is a faithful reader of the blog..... you'll see her comments peppered throughout.... and her husband Mike (whom I've blogged about before) isn't a big fan of the blog....

Sarah & Mike went to see the Holiday Inn implosion on Sunday morning. I would have gone, but I was busy preparing for my school dedication ceremony. I told Sarah that I thought this event was blog-worthy - so she should report it for me. And she did. (Ed.'s note: I think she's worked hard on this and is a bit nervous about it being well received. So only nice comments - I am the big sister and I'll beat up anyone who messes with her!!) Here it is:


Holiday Inn Implosion
Sunday, November 9th

I read about this event in the Dallas Morning News on Saturday and asked Mike if he wanted to go. We were taking a non-commital, "let's wait and see" approach. TRANSLATION: "It depends on how much we drink on Saturday night." If we were awake on Sunday morning, then we would go. If not, we'd watch on TV. No biggie.

We woke up at 6:45a on Sunday (it's fun having two dogs--once they sense you are awake they are relentless in their efforts to try to get you out of bed).

We headed out around 7:15a with provisions: cream cheese coffee cake, orange Gatorade, and Mountain Dew. While driving I was second guessing our decision. "Are we total dorks? Will anyone else be there? Should I have worn a bra?" My questions were answered as we drove along the service road across from the hotel site. Cars had jumped the curbs and were parked askew in the grass. Lines of cars were forming as people were waiting to park in apartment and business parking lots facing the freeway.

I estimate we were in the company of at least 200-300 people, including lots of families with kids. We met one man who had arrived at 6:45a; we offered him coffee cake. Many people brought cameras and recording devices. We stood next to the Channel 5 news van--strategically set up to capture the event. Anchor Suzy Solis was asking people to stick around afterwards to give comments. Overall a very festive atmosphere . . .

75 was shut down for 10 minutes in both directions. Very eerie, to see the freeway and not one single car . . .

Horns blared loudly three times just before 8am. Then, THE LOUDEST "BOOM" I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE, followed by smaller echoing booms. As a relatively intelligent person, I knew it would be loud--I had no idea just how loud. The magnitude of it all made my eyes water.

89 pounds of dynamite were used to take down the 9 story building. It crumbled from the center first, with the east and west sides of the rectangular building folding inward. Less than 30 seconds total. I stood watching in awe--I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it in my life.

Crowds cheered and people high-fived one another while huge billows of dust and debris plumed upward. A westward wind carried these clouds in our direction. A man nearby yelled, "Here comes the asbestos!"

Suddenly we were engulfed in the cloud. I covered my mouth, which did nothing to stop me from ingesting large amounts of the dust. I could crunch my teeth on the grit in my mouth. I looked back in the direction of where the building once stood, but all I could see was just more dust and debris. Eyes stinging, I ran for the car (I wish I had worn a bra).

Once in the car (also covered with dust and small debris) we drove home silently, enjoying clean air and taking in what we had just seen.

At home, I dusted off, brushed teeth, washed face, etc. We were just in time to see Suzy Soliz (also covered with dust and small debris) and the replay coverage on Channel 5.

To this day, one of the coolest things I have seen!

Not bad, eh? Maybe Sarah should get a blog of her own. For the full effect, here's a video of the event:

My thoughts on the election?

Well, I voted.

I'll tell you who I voted for. John McCain. I describe my political views as "Republican with Democratic tendencies." But this election, I just felt that I was more in line with McCain than Obama. I didn't (and still don't) think he has the experience needed to run a country. However, history has shown that many presidents didn't have that experience (like W.) - sometimes it worked out and sometimes it didn't.

I hate Joe Biden. He's a pompous ass. But he likes to get his drink on and party and he does have a lot of experience. And frankly, between him and Palin... he's the lesser of two evils.

So on election night, I knew pretty quick that my guy wasn't going to win. And I pouted. Which only resulted in Ohio and Pennsylvania going to Obama.

I watched McCain's concession speech - which was amazing, eloquent, thoughtful and downright passionate. The most passion I'd see from McCain was in admitting defeat, not running for office. I thought he was respectful to Obama and he was a graceful loser. Had he run his entire campaign with the same fire, thought, and candor..... heck, he might have had a chance......

I waited up for Obama to speak. I was going to turn the TV off at 11, whether I heard him or not. He came on. I will admit, I don't care for his dry delivery style, but I listened to his words. And watched how people reacted to him. People were crying. People were happy. People looked hopeful. When was the last time you saw that at a presidential election? Not in my lifetime...... maybe Kennedy?

I liked what he said to those of us who didn't vote for him. That he would work to earn our respect. That stuck with me. That was powerful.

While Obama doesn't have much experience in government, he knows how to unite people, to inspire people and give people hope. That's a quality that you can't learn, no matter how much experience you have.

I'm going to give Obama a chance. I think he may be the change we need. I'm going to watch him work to earn my respect. I'm going to watch how he unites people. And I'm going to watch and pray that he doesn't gouge me next tax year.

(Ed.'s note #1: I do have to say that I will miss Tina Fey as Sarah Palin - pure comic genius!)

(Ed.'s note #2: Mr./Mrs. Condescending Ray of Sunshine - I'm dying to see your blast on this post - hit me with your best shot!!)

Thanksgiving - what's the point?

Okay, so I just realized that Thanksgiving is like three weeks away..... big deal, right?

This holiday serves two purposes:

1. Be thankful - shouldn't we be thankful every day? How can you remember all year long the things you are thankful for and then be thankful for them on one day? Or are you supposed to not be thankful the other 364 days of the year and just expected nice shit to happen to you just because? Explain......

2. Eating - okay, I like to eat. One look at me and this would be a rhetorical comment. If we are so worried about health and obesity, why do we have a day that promotes eating until you are ill? Anyone???

Thanksgiving is a holiday spent with your family. Families are dysfunctional in the best of circumstances (if you don't think so, I've got a cruise on the river Denial with your name on it!!). Holidays are even more stressful. Drinking occurs, people are ubersensitive, and something ugly has the potential of happening.

So what do I do? Am I functional and face the day, knowing it could be a challenge?

Hell, no - I do my dysfunctional move that I've trademarked.... AVOIDANCE!

I avoid Thanksgiving. Hate it. Hate turkey. Hate pecan pie. Hate stuffing that has bread crumbs and/or apples and celery in it.

I travel. Or host people travelling.

Last year was my first "Un-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving." I had my dear friend John in from Florida and his friend Sandra from Houston. We stayed in our pj's, cooked, watched bad reality TV, drank, played Rummikub and had a very stress free day. With my trademark deviled eggs (which I know John is now trying to take credit for as his own in the Florida market - I'm on to you, John!). Don't get me wrong - we ate. But there was no dysfunction and no guilt.

This year, I'm going to Missouri to see my Sigh Sister Betty and Cousin Kate. We'll start off on the 22nd getting a full tour of St. Louis (been there so many times, but never done touristy stuff because family lives there) and we'll eat dinner on Sunday the 23rd. Marthalocity and Bettylocity will travel on Monday-Wednesday to Eureka Springs and Branson. We'll serve Thanksgiving dinners on the day. Again, no stress, no guilt, no drama, no dysfunction.

That's how I like to roll on Turkey Day.

We have 1000 hits!!!

Thanks to all of you who cruise my blog and check on my wacky life. I've hit over 1,000 clicks and that is exciting!! (And I've only had a counter for the last two months...... so you know I've been hit alot since starting this in January!)

Keep reading and keep the comments coming!!

With the holidays around the corner, you know I'll have some blog worthy material!!

Get out and vote today!

Make sure that you get out and vote today if you didn't already early vote. I voted last Wednesday because I never know with my job if I'm going to be able to get out of work at a decent hour.

I don't care who you vote for (actually I do!) but just make sure you get out there and vote.

Remember - you can't complain about our government if you didn't voice your opinion about who leads us!

Wonder how long it'll take before they call it tonight?

Happy Election Day!